Saving Me

Eva went to the changing rooms and sat down heavily. The song was for her, he’d chosen it because of her. ‘I wake in vain, I dream of love as time runs through my head. I dream of fire. In the flames the shadows play in the shape of a man’s desire. Desert Rose.’
I touched her deeply, like he knew it would. And she loved him all the more for it. She stood and wiped her eyes, moving to her locker. She screamed in horror at what she found and ran out of the room. She ran smack into Gabriel who was rushing to her rescue. “Oh my god!” She sobbed. His strong arms came around her and Adrian arrived next. “Why did you scream, what happened? You gave me a damn heart attack.” “My locker…someone hung a dead rat on it and…” She sobbed, burying her face in Gabriel’s shoulder. “Shit.” Adrian said and went into the women’s locker room. Gabriel held Eva as she clamed. “I’ve got you now, easy baby.” He murmured in her hair, she nodded and clutched at his shirt. Adrian came back with a white face that shot Gabriel’s already strained nerves to hell. “Shit.” Adrian repeated. He carefully held up a Polaroid up so Gabriel could see the picture. It had been taken this morning, outside the coffee shop. It showed Gabriel pressing a laughing Eva up against her Corvette. They had kissed right after that.

Adrian looked pointedly at Eva and Gabriel shifted her face into him again. Adrian turned the photo over. In big angry letters it warned. ‘I’m watching you.’ Fury rose in his chest. “What the fuck?” He growled. “Scratch practice for today. I’m going to call the police. Maybe the cameras caught him and there are some prints.” Adrian said, furious. “Are you okay with that Eva?” She nodded but Gabriel held her tighter, protectively. “Stay here while I get the keys to lock this door. I’ll be right back.”

Eva had gotten threatening letters before, but nothing like this. Someone had followed her and Gabriel and photographed a moment of their lives. And then posted it, along with a nearly headless rat, ON her God Damn locker. It scared her but she was far more angry that she was scared. Adrian came back with the keys and locked the door. “The cops are on the way, Gabriel, go on and take her up to my office. I’ll wait for them out front.” Eva’s head whipped up. “ Adrian don’t you dare go out there and smoke a cigarette.” She warned him. Adrian scowled, caught. “I wasn’t gonna.” “Liar. Check and make sure my car is okay.”

Gabriel sat down on the couch and pulled Eva into his lap like a child. He tipped her chin up and kissed her soothingly. “It’s okay Eva, we’ll find out who did this.” She nodded and tried to repress all the fears that had leapt to life at the sight of the picture. Her first thought had gone to Martin. But he was dead and gone. She needed to let that go, let him go. Eva shivered as her heart rate dropped, and she told Gabriel exactly what had first crossed her mind. He hugged her harder to him and would have replied but the Police had arrived and wanted Eva’s statement. When that was over Adrian brought Eva her bag and the things that had been inside her locker. “We’ll pick up tomorrow. No, no arguments. Go home and recoup and take him with you.” Adrian nodded his head at Gabriel. Eva blinked innocently. “I was going to.”

Eva followed Gabriel to his house and waited in the cute Victorian house that was really to big for one person alone. Gabriel still had boxes strewn around; unopened and ignored it looked like. The house had taken on his clean musky scent, it permeated the air comfortingly. She smiled when he pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom. She was impressed. The room itself was painted a deep blue, almost black; the bed was enormous, a simple frame, and a comfy comforter. Black. But comfy looking none the less, fluffy pillows spread across the headboard. “Gabriel?” She called and his voice floated out of the closet. “Hmm?” “Can we stay here tonight?” He stuck his head out around the door blinking. His lips softened in a smile. “Yeah?” She nodded. “Sure, I’ll drive you home to get some stuff.” Eva shook her head. “I can go myself.” He nodded agreeably. “Yeah you can, but you won’t. Come on.” She smiled at the way he was taking charge, but out of care, not out of wanting to dominate her. He took her hand and led her back down the stairs and to his car. A black BMW M3. Totally him, sleek, classy and the kind of thing that drew your gaze where ever you went. He opened the door which was beginning to grow on her and she buckled her seatbelt. He walked around and slid in beside her.

Eva gathered her things and threw them in a duffle, she took her own shampoo when he wasn’t looking she spritzed herself with some of her favorite perfume; a mist over her throat and between her breasts. She didn’t pack any pajamas, but did change from her dance clothes into a pair of her favorite jeans. Grinning she had also snuck on a ridiculous excuse for panties and found the matching bra before choosing the perfect shirt. A deep green, like his eyes, that clung to her body, dipping low between her breasts. She threw some other things into her duffle deciding she was finished right as Gabriel sauntered over and leaned casually against the door jamb. “Are you staying for the week or moving in?” He teased taking her duffle from her. Eva felt her nipples tighten under his slow perusal of her choice of clothing. “I haven’t decided yet.” She said quietly, as she stepped into some comfortable boots.

Eva’s cell phone rang shrilly snapping her back to reality. She frowned and followed the sound, until she found the blue razor on her night stand. “Hello?” Gabriel saw her wince and jerk the phone away from her ear. Gabriel heard another woman shouting over the line. “Fran calm down I’m fine, it was just a scare but I’m fine now.” She looked at him across the room with a soft look on her face. “Gabriel was with me…yes he’s still with me…” Gabriel warmed under the leisurely stroll she took with her eyes. “No not by myself…Jesus Ch…”She winced again and held the phone like a viper. She crossed herself with her free hand. “Sorry Fran. No I am not going to stay here alone…oh no Fran you don’t have to do that…okay; we’ll come by and...No I don’t want you to go out of your way...” Eva sighed and gave him an apologetic look. He grinned and raised his brows. Silently laughing at her, her eyes narrowed and she licked her lip as she crossed one arm under her breasts. “I’m staying with Gabriel tonight Fran. At his house.” She gave him an unholy, shit eating grin. “He’s moved into that Victorian house on the corner of Orion and Main . Yeah. See you in a while. I love you.” Eva hung up the phone. “Laughing at me huh?” Gabriel nodded. “We’ll see who laughs last. Fran is going to bring us dinner.” Her voice was smug as his smile faltered. She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and sailed out the door opening her own car door. A sweet tantalizing secent followed in her wake. Gabriel shook his head as put her bag in the back seat. “Wench.” He muttered.

Twenty minutes later Francesca knocked on Gabriel’s door. He steeled himself and opened the door with what he hoped was a saintly smile. She scowled at him and muttered a string of what he assumed were curses from the derogatory tone. Eva put her arm around his waist and welcomed the older lady. “Nineréa, come on in.” Gabriel took the bags from her hands. “Thank you for bringing us dinner.” He said and saw her scowl falter, her lips twitching at the corners. “Bambina, what happened, why didn’t you call me immediately? I had to hear about it from my dishwasher, whose sister’s boyfriend was the leading officer’s new partner.” Gabriel tried to keep up with the litany but he opted for shutting the door and taking the food into the kitchen.

Eva let Fran fuss over her; she’d missed the motherly woman. “Are you going to stay with us for dinner?” Eva interrupted. Fran shook her head. “No, I have to get home to my Papi. I just wanted to make sure this boy,” she waved her hand at Gabriel. “Was taking care of you properly. Had everything under control.” Gabriel took his queue and fetched plates from the cupboard and silver wear. With actual napkins and wine glasses. Fran nodded once. “And also,” She walked around the table and poked her finger in Gabriel’s chest threateningly. Which was near comical seeing as how Francesca was five foot three and a buck fifty soaking wet. Gabe was six five and outweighed her by a hundred pounds. “You step one foot wrong with my Eva and I will personally castrate you with your own ice skates.” Gabriel believed she would. “Nineréa!” Eva gasped. Fran nodded again. “Just so we’re clear.” Gabriel made a cross over his heart and swallowed past the horror of the thought. “Perfectly clear.” “Good, Eva you behave yourself. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Fran kissed Eva’s cheek, grabbed her purse and marched out of the kitchen like a little general.

Eva saw her to the door and came back howling with laughter. She had to lean against the wall to stay upright. “I’m sorry…that was just so…classic. I whish I’d had Adrian ’s video camera so you could have seen the look on your face.” Gabriel snarled and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, she shrieked but kept laughing. He walked her into the living room and threw her on the couch, coming down on top of her. Crushing her into the sofa. “Castration with my own ice skates? God Eva have a little sympathy.” Eva’s lips turned down but she was still laughing. “Oh honey, I’ll protect you. I like everything right where it is.” She patted his crotch like a puppy. He smothered her with a searing kiss, that gentled became tender. “Thank you for today.” She murmured under his mouth. He smiled and rubbed his nose on hers. “I’m glad I was there.” Eva nodded. “Me too.” He kissed her cheek and sat up. “Ready to eat?” Eva nodded and took his hand, let him pull her up and lead her into the kitchen.